Means for distributing moisture absorbing material



W. O. ROY

Oct. 18, 1932.

MEANS FOR DISTRIBUTING MOISTURE ABSORBING MATERIAL.

Filed March 14, 1951 INVENTOR,

BY HIS ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 18, 1932 WILLIAM ORMISTON ROY, OIEMONTREAL, QUEBEC, CANADA MEANS FOR DISTRIBUTING MOISTURE ABSORBINGMATERIAL Application filed March 14, 1931. Serial 110,522,724.

My invention relates to a novel method for distributing moistureabsorbing-material on road surfaces and the like, and to novel means forcarrying out such method, for the pur- 5 pose of laying dust, softeningice, and the like.

Objects of my invention are to distribute such moisture absorbingmaterial from vehicles in their ordinary use 'of roads and highways; tomake the distribution automatically; to cause the operating forces ofautomotive vehicles to cooperate in efi'ecting such distribution; toemploy the exhaust of such vehicles for that purpose; to cause suchexhaust to actuate material feeding mechanism; and by the use of suchmeans as above suggested to accomplish the distribution of such materialin small quantities by so many vehicles that the aggregate amountdistributed will be efi ectiveto lay dust and/ or soften ice upon roadsand'highways to an appreciable degree, all as is hereinafter moreparticularly explained.

In the drawing, Fig. 1, is a side elevation of the rear end of anautomobile with typical means for carrying out my improved methodattached; Fig. 2, is a rear elevation of the same, the mud guards andthe lower portions of the wheels being removed, for clearness;

Fig. 3, is a detail, on an enlarged scale, of a vertical section of amodification, taken as on the line 33 of Fig. 4; and Fig. 4, is avertical section of the lower part of such modification, taken as on theline ir-4. of

Fig. 3.

In all the figures similar parts are designated by similar referencenumerals.

To illustrate an application of my invention I have shown the rear partof a typical automobile, 1, 1 being the wheels, centrally broken away inFig. 1, 2, the rear axle, 3, 3

springs, 41-, 4 the frame, 5 the gasoline tank, and 6 the exhaust pipe.

In a suitable position, where space will permit, as, for instance behindand above the stances act.

gasoline tank 5 and carried by frame 4, 4, may bemounted a tank, as 7,the sides and bottom of which are preferably sloped toward an outlet 8,from which a pipe 9 leads down toward the exhaust pipe 6. This pipe maybe provided with a cook or valve 10 by which it maybe opened or closedas occasion requires. The lower end of this pipe 9 is connected into asleeve member 11, which is adapted to slip over the end of the exhaustpipe 6, and

may be detachably attached thereto as by a set screw 12.

- It is preferableto bend or turn the end of the pipe 9 rearwardly asshown in Fig. 1, so that its open end will be in the direction of theescaping exhaust gasses.

A closure 13 is provided for an opening into the tank 7 through which-itmay be charged.

A suitable charge, for instance a strong solution of sodium chloride,having been introduced into the tank 7, the cock 10 being closed, theengine of the automobile may be started, and the cock opened so as topermit the 'flow of the solution through the pipe 9 in such' volume asmay be desired, the solution falling into the sleeve 11 and being blownout by and with the exhaust gasses, slightly above the road surface, andso as to normally fall to that surface in a more or less diffused state,where it will tend to, dampen the roadwayand to prevent dust from risingtherefrom in the well known manner in which calcium chloride and similardust laying sub- In cold weather when ice and/ or snow may produceslippery conditions upon a road, the effect of this treatment is toslightly melt or soften the frozen water so as to make it in which casethe pipe 9 should be of suflicient size to allow the substance to passthrough it under the force of gravity, which will be assisted by thevibration of the vehicle when in motion, the quantity reaching theexhaust being carried out and scattered by the exhaust blast; or more orless positive feeding means may be provided and driven by the mechanismof the car or through the exhaust.

In Figs. 3 and 4, I have illustrated means for such feeding, a Worm 15,within the pipe 9, being carried by a shaft 16 journalled in the sleeve11, and carrying a worm gear 17 driven by a worm 18 on the shaft 19 of avane 20 mounted in the casing of sleeve 11 so that it will be rotated bythe blast of the exhaust, thus causing the feed screw 15 to draw downthe material from the tank 5 to fall down through the pipe 9 into theexhaust blast and to be carried out and scattered by it, the relativeproportions and rate of movement of the parts of the feedin apparatusbeing such that the distribution of, the material will be at a ratewhich experience may show to be desirable under the circumstances.

This particular form of feed is to be considered simply as typical; forit is obvious that other forms accomplishing an equivalent result may beemployed, whereby material may be fed into the exhaust blast.

The use of my improvements is particularly des rable on unsurfaced ordirt roads, where in dry seasons dust is very annoying.

If a dust layer is distributed from a considerable number of cars usingsuch a road, the aggregate result Will very materially diminish the dustnuisance; besides which the trouble and expense of providing for specialapparatus and labor for spreading the dust layer would be avoided, andthe improvement of the road conditions would be effected by the users ofthe road in the process of using it.

While I have suggested the use of calcium chloride for the purposesmentioned, I do not wish to confine myself to that material alone, forother materials might be used to obtain similar results; and otherequivalent means for scattering the dust layer from ordinary automotivevehicles might be used without departing from the spirit of my inventionor the scope of my claims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent of the United States-is 1. Means for distributingmoisture absorbing material consisting in the combination with anautomotive vehicle embodying an internal combustion engine and anexhaust duct, of a material container, a material duct extending fromthe container to the exhaust duct, positively acting means actuated bythe exhaust blast for moving material through the material duct to andinto the exhaust duct and into the path of the blast through saidexhaust duct.

